What’s a billion rand between councillors?

At a special council meeting on Wednesday, the City of Tshwane’s council approved the fast-tracking of the public private partnership (PPP) for the building of a new Municipal complex.

But what this will cost ratepayers over the 25 year duration of the contract, is not at all clear.

Little clarity was given during the council meeting and there was also very little discussion, apart from an exchange of insults and bartering between the ruling ANC and opposition DA.

Deputy city manager Lindiwe Kwele could not on Thursday clarify the discrepancy between the mayor’s statement earlier this year putting the cost at R2 billion, the city website that put it at R3 billion and an independent expert who put it at R4.3 billion.

She said the city will submit a report to National Treasury where an assessment will be done.

A report from Treasury will come back to council “and then we can have this discussion,” she said.

The DA asked in Wednesday’s meeting that its opposition to the decision be noted. The party earlier stated that it did not get timeous notification of the meeting and at least ten of its 80 councillors did not get the reports.

Before the meeting the party’s legal representatives sent a letter to the speaker objecting to the lack of proper notice. The speaker noted the letter, but proceeded with the meeting.